Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Massacre at Mass in Iraq; Archbp Vigneron's statement

Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron made the following statement today, following the Oct. 31 siege that killed 58 at the Our Lady of Salvation cathedral in Baghdad:

"As we observe All Souls Day this year, we Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit cannot help but lift up in prayer the many dead -- all too many -- who perished last Sunday, when terrorists attacked the Syriac-Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad: 'Eternal rest grant onto them, O Lord. May they rest in peace.'

"Let us also commend to God's merciful care the wounded, and pray, likewise, for those who grieve for the innocent victims of this violent assault. May faith in the victory of the risen Christ sustain everyone in the face of this great evil.

"Last month in Rome, when I took part in the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, day-in and day-out I heard the pastors of that region descry just these sorts of atrocities that are the scourge of their people. In the light of this latest and so-grievous wound to peace, it is all the more urgent that we not only pray for the gift of peace, but that we call upon our leaders and all persons of good will to work mightily and tirelessly to banish violence and terror from the lives of the people of the Middle East." (Source)

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul (2.2:3)...

"...the devil causes many to believe in vain visionsand false prophecies; and strives to make them presumethat God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."